This story details the transition of Bass from the classic series into the X series. It is fairly dark and deals with the inner-workings of robots and reploids. It also talks to the ideas of destiny and purpose; chance vs. fate, will vs. ability, etc...
I have a few theories regarding the ending of the classic series as well as some things in the X series, I allude to those things in my story but, for the most part, they don't take a central role. Feel free to extrapolate and interact with me on those things if you see them.
Disclaimer: I do not own Mega Man, Proto Man, Bass, Wily, or any of the other characters here that you have heard of before... Capcom does. I know it, you know it, I'm not stealing.
Chapter 1 – Super Fighting Robots
20XX
"What are you thinking?" Proto Man exclaimed as he lay helpless to stop Bass from taking pot-shots at the energy tanks closest to Mega Man, trying to catch his foe in the resulting explosions. "You're going to bring the whole building down on top of us!" Behind Proto Man's dark visor his eyes were wide with fear and disbelief; first Wily had put them all through the ringer yet again with eight new robot masters, and right when the evil doctor was ready to beg for mercy, Bass launched an all out assault on both Mega Man AND Wily's castle. Wily had scurried into yet ANOTHER secret room and the Blue Bomber was using the small amount of energy he had left to dodge Bass Buster shots and energy tank explosions. Bass would likely win, but kill himself and everyone stuck in the castle at the same time.
Proto Man had already sacrificed his body in an attempt to take down Wily, but it was Mega Man who had defeated him anyway. Proto cursed his rash behavior; had he simply trusted his younger brother in the first place, he would still be standing to shield Mega from Bass' onslaught.
Mega Man went into a slide just in time to avoid a high explosion that would have easily taken off his upper body. Two blasts of energy hit right beside him as he leapt for temporary cover that would soon be rubble. The robot master construction facility was too fragile for a warrior like Bass. Large metal capsules in which the robots were constructed and treated sat beneath large energy tanks used to power the robots and enormous computers set with the task of monitoring the systems of the entities within. The room had originally been extremely crowded with such capsules until Bass had begun his rampage. Now barely a quarter of the remaining cylinders stood erect and few that had fallen were more than crushed, flaming wreckage.
Round after round volleyed into the constructs around the factory, bringing twisted metal and chunks of concrete down all around. Proto pried his eyes away from the scampering Mega Man to glance at Bass. The dark robot clone of Mega Man was running almost as frantically as his prototype rival blasting wildly. A fire was in his eye so strong Proto Man thought it had to be a reflection of the flames in the room. But no, it was even brighter. It was as if Bass' eyes reflected something that wasn't in the room; or at the very least something Proto Man couldn't see.
The red- and gray-clad robot wished he could be in the fight once again as he shielded his eyes with his functioning arm in order to view the battle a little better. Bass had just finished off a few support beams and the computer terminals mounted to them to trap himself and the Blue Bomber in a narrow strip of safety in the middle of the blazing factory. There was little else Mega Man could do other than face Bass head on now.
Proto Man's eyes drifted back to Mega and to his amazement found that his brother was staring right back at him.
Why is he looking at me? In all of this is he REALLY still worried about what will happen to me? Is he still trying to shield me? Shield…
My Shield!
Taking the hint, Proto Man looked beside him to find his Proto Shield still just barely in reach. Without wasting time, he grabbed it, popping a circuit or two in the stretch and without the leverage of standing heaved it with all his might, hoping he could protect his younger brother still.
Mega Man launched himself from his final bit of cover in order to just barely grip the soaring Proto Shield with his fingertips. Without the pressure from the shots of the Bass Buster pounding into the oval shield, his fingers may not have been able to stop it from flying straight through the corridor and out past the impassible walls of fire. Steadying himself and Proto Man's shield against his arm and shoulder, the Blue Bomber began to dash toward Bass, charging his M-Buster with all that was left of his energy.
Bass' astonishment was apparent even to Proto Man nearly thirty meters away. As the pieces started to come together in Proto Man's mind, Bass' body language proved he was having similar revelations.
It was all on purpose. Rock knew he only had one shot at taking Bass down and needed to ensure it hit. He made sure Bass destroyed all the cover around; he planned the strip between wreckage and even the use of my shield. Now there's nowhere for Bass to run… it's over.
The Blue Bomber charged within a meter of Bass and swung the Proto Shield outward, knocking his hapless adversary's arm cannon out of the way. Still in full sprint Mega Man thrust his now fully charged M-buster straight into Bass' exposed chest and let out the last of his stored power in a massive energy blast, consuming both fighters in blinding light…